Get the real deal on beauty treatments—real doctors, real reviews, and real photos with real results.Here's how we earn your trust.

2 years post-op - Not happy with final results

1 year post

Here's the bad and the ugly....

$8,601
My last update showed the good results. These pics show the bad and the ugly of my results. I feel like I have way to much extra skin and fat than I should have. There is so much skin and fat when I sit down or pinch my tummy. I discussed this with the Dr. at my 1 year follow up and he thought I looked good and was convinced we made the right decision going with the mini instead of the full. I wish I had done the full. I told him I was concerned about the pooch in the lower abdomen, and he said it was not a big deal and I was being too hard on myself. His assistant suggested I try coolsculpting to get rid of the fat there, but dr. said he didn't think it was necessary.
So a couple of weeks ago, I really felt like they needed to address this. I am not happy, and I feel like I should have gotten better results considering that I went through a major surgery for this. Anyway, you can see the pictures I took today of me sitting down. You can see the rolls. The just shouldn't be there. I know some is normal, but not this much.
I called the dr. office and the assistant suggested I come in to see if there was enough fat there for coolscupting (there was). So she did the coolsculpting (one area on the lower abs) two weeks ago. And they wanted to charge me $200 for it! That is the cost for the office, I guess. I expressed my concern about this and they haven't called back to say that I have to pay, so hopefully that resolved it.
Coolsculpting results take a few months to see, so I am still waiting on that. Unfortunately, I do not think that will solve the problem. Because there's nothing you can do about the loose/extra skin except excise during a surgery. So that's that. I also really don't want to have to do another surgery. I'm feeling disappointed and down. I look good in a bathing suit, but not where I should be after having a tummy tuck. I look good standing up for the most part. But still lots of extra skin, especially beside and above the belly button. I have to suck in when I sit down and sometimes when I wear tight clothes so the rolls and/or pooch don't show.
I am working out super hard and I'm the strongest and tonest I've been in my entire life. I should look better than this.

's provider

Jeremy Pyle, MD

Jeremy Pyle, MD

Board Certified Plastic Surgeon

Overall rating

Replies (5)

I totally understand your frustration AND l am still considering having your exact procedure with Dr.Plye because l think it is still worth not having a belly button scar. I really don't want anyone to be able to look at me and be able to tell immediately that l've had a tt
That was my reasoning too. I wanted to still feel like myself. I had a mini with muscle repair all the way up. I’m 7 weeks out and still swollen above my scar so worried I didn’t make the right choice, but hoping it will get better with time.
Also, your scar is barely noticeable. For me...l just want a smaller waist, and a more taut stomach. I feel loose in my core and am tired of feeling like a waterbed. I have NEVER seen a full tt that l couldn't tell
I really want to, but l want to save rather than use savings. Also, my son still wakes at night and lm concerned about my recovery
If you feel you can't be happy, l saw a ps near you who does a reverse tt that has hidden scars under breast folds
Who is this dr you are talking about??
Two years after my full tt and I still occasionally swell but it took about 18 months to see the results.
Look at my profile. I am the same but actually a little more loose skin. Habing a revision May 25th☝
1 year post

The good, the bad, and the ugly

So it's been one year! I can't believe it. I am overall happy, but I continue to question whether I should have done the full. If I had it to do over again, I would do the full. I have quite a bit of extra skin and I still have the lump of loose skin above the bb. However, I look really good and feel really good about myself. I've been working out a ton trying to keep my an definition! I've never been excited to wear a bathing suit and this summer I can't wait to show off my new bod! I am still considering a revision to a full. I go next week for my one year follow up. Regardless of what he says, I'm going to get a second (and maybe 3rd) about the revision. If I decide to do one, it won't be for a while, though. Next winter at the very earliest.

Replies (4)

I gotta be honest. You look [RS bleep] amazing. Your tt of all the tts l looked at inspired me to contact Dr. Pyle.
You look super in shape with no sign that you had a tt. I just had a consult with him via Skype and he said l am a candidate for a mini which l was pleased with. Honestly, from the way l see it the mini is a trade of, not a taut above belly button, but no bb scar. The bb scar is my biggest concern.
PLEASE check out the cover of J Crew's spring catalog. One of the models who is perfect has a stomach that looks just like yours while sitting down. I would love to talk to you more about your experience since l will likely be going the same route this winter
Did you have a floating umbi with your mini? I had a mini with a float and am wishing I did a full. I've heard that doing a full after that can be hard, although not impossible. Keep us updated! I would love to hear what doctors have to say!
thank you so much for giving such good detail!!! I have already contacted pyle and he said I'm a candidate or mini with umbilical float. so you did not have a float? did you have any muscle repair above belly button? you look freaking amazing. the other dr I saw said full bc his mini doesn't go above belly button. dr Pyle assured me his goes all the way up. I'm conflicted. did he do lipo on the abdomen? or just flanks? I would love to am more questions!!
can you message me? I have other questions.
10 months post

Scar at 10 months

Scar looks decent. I am still hoping for some more of the redness to fade. There are some parts of the scar that are completely white, and I'm hoping that is how the whole thing will end up. I'm still massaging it at night every once in a while.

Replies (3)

Looking good! I've heard that as long as the scar still has color, you're still healing. I don't know if that's true, but it seems like a lot of people don't finish healing from this surgery until around a year. This will teach me patience. At least that's what I keep saying in my head :-)
Oh, and I'm sure it will turn completely white. Did you have a c-section? I did and if that terrible scar can turn white, this certainly can.
I just had a full TT with Dr Pyle and was asking about Embrace. What kit did you buy? I was wondering how long I really needed it. I think you look amazing!! Thanks!!